Pradeep, V.P.P.Subhasinghe, H.M.P.A.Chandrasena, G.Withanage, N.S.2021-08-112021-08-11201122359877http://www.erepo.lib.uwu.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/123456789/6909/214-Study%20on%20Changes%20in%20Root%20Systems%20of%20Black%20Pepper.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yBlack pepper is highly demanding spice crop among the other spices which is known as `king of the spices'. It is scientifically known( as Piper nigrum L and belongs to family Piperaceae. It is the most distinct spice in international trade in Sri Lanka 2007 (Anon., 2007). It can be grown as a mono crop or mixed crop in coconut and tea plantations using a live or dead support. Gliricidia sepium is the commonly used support tree in Sri Lanka due to its higher availability, establishment rate, as well as low pest and disease condition (Anon, 1996). In addition to the above benefits, shade provided by Gliricidia is essential for growth of young pepper vines and reduces stress for mature vines during dry periods. (Gunarathne and Heenkenda, 2004). But canopy growth rate of Gliricidia sepium is very high. Then there is a competition in between these two for sun light and other resources. Therefore, support for tree pruning is needed to facilitate light penetration to pepper canopy and to reduce the competition. In Gliricidia sepium L and black pepper system, removal of Gliricidia canopy enhances almost all the physiological activities of black pepper plant, but it reduces those in the support tree, Therefore, It may affect on the root activity and/or root volume of both Black pepper and support tree. These variations in both root systems, may directly affect on water and nutrient up take of pepper and ultimately on it's different yield attributes of the black pepper.Therefore, this study was carried out to study the effect of support tree canopy pruning on growth behavior of both pepper (Piper nigrum L) and support tree (Gliricidia sepium L) root systems and to find out the relationship in between canopy growth and root growth behavior of both pepper and support tree during two consecutive support tree prunings.enAgricultureBiotechnologyFood ScienceFood TechnologyOther